Rushall Olympic vs Gresley Rovers
Rovers get a day off – Andy Parker – Burton Mail
Gresley can be excused one poor performance after such an all-conquering season so far – and this was it.
On a hard fast Rushall pitch whipped up by a bitter, biting wind, Rovers were out-thought and outfought by a Rushall side for whom this was probably their biggest game of the season. Rovers of course, are angling for much larger fish – and it showed.
Manager Frank Northwood said afterwards: “It was a case of ‘after the Lord Mayor’s show’ – everybody had a shocker and they obviously had Saturday on their minds.
“But there was nothing wrong that we can’t put right – you don’t change from a good side to a bad one overnight.
“Some people may say we’re tired after all we’ve done, but no way is that the case. You can’t make excuses.”
Rovers certainly played into Rushall’s hands. Striker Carl Dwyer was left unmarked to pick his spot with a 17th minute header from Andy McRobbie’s cross and, if he thought that was a gift, he’d seen nothing yet.
Eleven minutes later Bob Aston made a complete hash of a goal kick, leaving the number nine completely free to plant the ball in the net.
Rovers were shocked and angered by such a suicidal start but apart from when Kieron Smith almost got onto the end of a Carl Rathbone flick on from Richard Denby’s free kick did nothing to suggest they might turn things round.
Even after the interval, when Gresley dominated proceedings in midfield to the extent that the game became a procession in the direction of the Rushall goal, the home side were quicker to the ball at the back and always dangerous on the break.
It could have been 3-0 when Dwyer released Craig Knight for a free run down the right but Aston partly atoned for his earlier goofs with a superb fingertip save.
That inspired Gresley’s best spell with Steve Adcock’s cross bouncing off the top of the bar and Rathbone heading a Denby corner just over. Smith shot narrowly off target and what seemed like reasonable claims for a penalty were turned down as Denby went crashing in the box.
Rushall added salt to Gresley’s gaping wounds in the 88th minute when Andy Hill caught Aston off his line with a shot from the left touchline that merely added insult to injury.
Rushall Olympic (2) 3
Gresley Rovers (0) 0
Scorers: Dwyer 17, 29, Hill 88.
Rushall Olympic: Haynes, Payne, P Hill, Dawson, Watkiss, Perry, A Hill, Knight, Dwyer, Deeley, McRobbie. Subs: Edwards, Harris.
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Barry, Stokes, Denby, Land, Astley, Weston, Smith, Adcock, Rathbone, Lovell: Subs Dick,
Gresley man-of-the-match: Gil Land.
Referee: A Wiley (Chasetown).
Attendance: 300
